Edinburgh Art Festival launched its ninth annual programme today by announcing an impressive catalogue of exhibitions that will be put on throughout the city Thu 2 Aug-Sun 2 Sep.

Internationally acclaimed artists including Hermann Nitsch, Melvin Moti and Donald Judd are all presenting major exhibitions throughout the capital while new commissions from, among others, 2010 Turner Prize winner Susan Philipsz and Andrew Miller are to be housed in the festivals new Promenade Programme - a new initiative aimed at integrating the whole city into the festival by hosting exhibitions at public locations around Edinburgh.

One sure fire hit will be Dieter Roth's new exhibition being housed at The Fruitmarket Galleries.

Festival Director Sorcha Carey said: 'The 2012 Edinburgh Art Festival programme continues to make visual art central to the Edinburgh summer festival experience, with an unparalleled offering of major solo exhibitions by leading international artists and the opportunity to see some of the city’s most exciting new spaces dedicated to emerging talent. The extended Promenade Programme will invite visitors to look anew at Edinburgh’s world famous heritage site.'

The Edinburgh Art Festival is Scotland's biggest annual visual art festival and takes place in more than 30 of the city's museums and galleries. The many exhibitions will be supported by an innovative and wide ranging events programme including talks given by the artists, dedicated workshops and family days.

Scotland’s largest annual celebration of visual art offers work by the best contemporary Scottish artists as well as exhibitions of the most important international artists and movements of the 20th century and other historical periods.